Jury Acquits Aurora Officer in Elijah McClain's Death

Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard has been acquitted of all charges in the killing of Elijah McClain, a case that gained national attention and fueled protests against police brutality. Woodyard had placed McClain, a Black man, in a carotid hold while trying to arrest him. McClain, who was unarmed and wearing a ski mask due to a medical condition, died after being injected with ketamine by paramedics. The initial autopsy listed his cause of death as "undetermined," but an amended report attributed it to complications of ketamine administration following forceful restraint. Woodyard is the second officer acquitted in McClain's death, while another officer was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault. Paramedics involved will be tried later this year. Colorado has since banned police chokeholds and limited the use of ketamine during arrests.